The present progressive verb takes an –ing ending and uses the helping verbs am, is, and are. The words is, am, and are work together with the -ing form of the action verb to create a two-word verb.
I am walking.
She is walking.
We are walking.
The present tense linking verb uses those same verbs. This time, however, the words am, is, and are become the only verb in the clause. The verb connects the subject to the noun at the end of the sentence that renames the subject.
I am a doctor. Doctor renames I.
She is my mother. Mother renames she.
We are both women. Women renames we.
A present tense linking verb can also link the subject to an adjective that describes the subject:
I am busy. The adjective busy describes I.
She is happy. The adjective happy describes she.
We are tired. The adjective tired describes we.
Sometimes when you see the verbs am, is, are, they are working as a helping verb with an -ing action verb. We call that a present progressive verb. Other times, the verbs am, is, are work as linking verbs, connecting a subject to either a noun renaming the subject or an adjective describing the subject.
▶It’s your turn. Can you figure out which of these sentences has a present progressive verb? The men are working on the street. The street is bumpy. I hope you chose the sentence with the –ing verb.